The Dow Center offers one of Hillsdale’s finest venues for your special event, whether it is large or small. It is the ideal location for company dinners, holiday parties, weddings, rehearsal dinners, class reunions, family gatherings, or any occasion where friends, families, or colleagues wish to meet. On-site catering is also available by request through Bon Appétit Catering. The Dow Center features nine conference rooms, an auditorium with seating for 700, banquet dinner capacity for 700, and 36 hotel rooms to host your needs. For more information or to schedule an event, please contact us at (517) 437-3311 or email [email protected].

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Dow Conference Center Facilities

The Searle Center

Enjoy the elegance and grandeur of a big-city ballroom at the Searle Center, adjacent to the Dow Center. The Searle Center offers the perfect location for wedding receptions, dinner banquets, fundraising galas, and more, for up to 700 people. A dance floor and grand piano are available, and the room can accommodate either a DJ or a live band.

Elizabeth Hoynak Archive Center

A large capacity room for gatherings up to 100 people, Elizabeth Hoynak Archive Center is the perfect venue for your dinner, fundraiser, or wedding reception. 

Christ Chapel

Christ Chapel was designed by prominent architect and University of Notre Dame professor Duncan Stroik. Stroik has designed several religious spaces in the United States, including Thomas Aquinas College Chapel in California and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Wisconsin. The chapel’s design complements Hillsdale College’s Central Hall and is modeled after the English church St. Martin-in-the-Fields, which was the inspiration for Philadelphia’s famous Christ Church. Featuring a 64-foot painted barrel ceiling, 14 columns, arched windows, and wooden pews, the chapel is capable of seating 1,350 people.

Christ Chapel is available on a case-by-case basis for faculty, staff, student, and alumni weddings only.

Plaster Auditorium

Immediately connected to the Searle Center, Plaster Auditorium hosts up to 700 people for corporate presentations, performances, and other large gatherings.

Beckett Conference Room

This 570 square foot conference seats 40 for meetings, dinners, and other small gatherings. 

Gillespie Conference Room

This 1,104 square foot room seats 64 and features full audiovisual capabilities, including a built-in screen and high quality projector.

A conference room for meetings and other small gatherings. 

Campus View

The Dow Center's Campus View room overlooks the campus quad, providing the perfect location for executive meetings for up to 14 guests.

Kolivosky Lounge (Lower Lobby)

The Dow Center's lower lobby is the perfect spot to relax between meetings or enjoy an early morning coffee. 

Upper Lobby

The Dow's upper lobby provides a great view of Hillsdale College's campus to hotel guests and visitors. 

Wilcox Reading Room

A conference room for meetings and other small gatherings. 

Board Room

A conference room for meetings and other small gatherings. 

Virtual Tour Square Feet Room Size Classroom Audience Rounds U-Shape Square
LOWER LEVEL
Plaster Auditorium 360 Tour - - - 700 - - -
FIRST FLOOR
Hoynak 360 Tour 1,800 60' x 30' 50 100 96 28 40
Beckett Room 360 Tour 570 19' x 30' 18 30 32 20 24
Kolivosky Lounge - 1,920 20' x 96' - - - - -
Snack Bar - 2,448 36' x 68' 54 150 100 - -
Searle Center 360 Tour 13,225 115' x 115' - 700 700 - -
SECOND FLOOR
Campus View 360 Tour 400 20' x 20' - - 12 - 14
Board Room 360 Tour 693 33' x 21' 24 - 40 24 28
Wilcox Reading Room 360 Tour 589 31' x 19' 24 40 32 24 25
Gillespie Conference Room 360 Tour 1,104 44' x 25' 36 80 80 30 36
Upper Lobby - 1,920 20' x 96' - - - - -
OTHER
Christ Chapel - - - - 1500 - - -